Yahoo Finance 50 Cities With the Cheapest Utilities
When summer kicks into high gear and the days get scorching hot, most consumers’ first instinct is to turn on the air conditioning. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, energy usage tends to follow seasonal patterns, with the highest usage occurring in July. Southwestern and southeastern states use the most energy, likely because they experience higher temperatures than northern states.
As energy usage climbs, so do utility bills, especially in hot and humid locations. The biggest contributors to household utility bills are heaters and air conditioners. When consumers crank up their air conditioners to full blast, the result is a higher monthly utility bill. Other major energy draws are water heating, lighting and refrigeration. However, since the need for hot water, lights and refrigeration is consistent year round, this usually doesn’t spike utility costs.
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Utility bill costs can vary widely by location. Read on to learn more about energy costs and the cities with the cheapest utility costs so you can stay cool and save money this summer.
What You Can Do To Keep Your Utility Costs Low
Air conditioning is a must if you live in an area with sweltering summer temperatures. No one wants to sit in a miserable, blazing-hot house. If your home doesn’t have air conditioning, you may get by with fans, but it can be slightly uncomfortable. However, turning on the air conditioning usually means a higher bill. To keep your costs low, you can try a few strategies.
Use a programmable thermostat to increase the temperature when you’re away and lower it when you’re at home.
Try to find a reasonable setting that isn’t unnecessarily cool.
Turn on the bathroom fan after a hot shower to remove the heat.
Keep your air conditioning system well maintained.
Turn off your ceiling fans when you leave a room since they don’t impact the room’s temperature.
Seal any cracks around your windows and doors to prevent hot outside air from entering your home.
Window coverings, such as blinds, curtains and shutters, can also keep the sun from warming up your home during the day. Try shutting them during the morning and afternoon, when temperatures climb.
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Where Utilities Are Least Costly
Pacific Northwest cities’ utility costs are relatively low, according to a recent GOBankingRates study in which the costs across the U.S. were analyzed to find the cities with the cheapest utilities. The results are clear: 49 of the 50 cheapest cities for utility costs are in Oregon and Washington. Just one of the cities on the list is outside those states — Carthage, Tennessee.
The nationwide average utility bill is $379 per month. However, all 50 cities on the list are well below the average.
The most inexpensive city for utility costs is Long Beach, Washington, where summer temperatures rarely exceed 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Located on the border of Washington and Oregon, Long Beach is a seaside city that doesn’t experience extreme weather conditions, so residents likely don’t require much air conditioning during the summer. It’s also a highly affordable place to live, with the monthly cost of living averaging about $3,954.
The cheapest city for utilities in Oregon is Coos Bay, a coastal town located southwest of Eugene. Utility bills average $241.10 monthly in Coos Bay. As in Long Beach, the cost of living in Coos Bay is affordable, with monthly expenses averaging $3,649. Summer daytime temperatures in Coos Bay hover in the mid-60s, and evenings drop to the mid-50s.
Major cities where utilities are affordable include Edmonds, Aberdeen, Tacoma, Seattle, Everett and Mount Vernon in Oregon and Washington. However, while utilities may be cheap in those locations, the overall cost of living is generally much higher due to housing, food and transportation costs.
Here’s a look at the 50 cities with the lowest utility costs.
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Long Beach, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $228.59
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($150.50)
Average monthly cost of living: $3,954
Livability index: 74
Port Angeles, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $238.44
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($140.64)
Average monthly cost of living: $4,399
Livability index: 76
Coos Bay, Oregon
Average monthly cost of utilities: $241.10
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($137.99)
Average monthly cost of living: $3,649
Livability index: 60
Bandon, Oregon
Average monthly cost of utilities: $241.86
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($137.23)
Average monthly cost of living: $4,560
Livability index: 75
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Edmonds, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $246.03
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($133.06)
Average monthly cost of living: $7,770
Livability index: 74
Hoquiam, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $246.03
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($133.06)
Average monthly cost of living: $3,302
Livability index: 74
Aberdeen, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $247.16
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($131.92)
Average monthly cost of living: $3,422
Livability index: 80
Quincy, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $247.92
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($131.16)
Average monthly cost of living: $4,337
Livability index: 79
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Lynnwood, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $248.30
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($130.78)
Average monthly cost of living: $6,843
Livability index: 75
Parkland, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $249.44
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($129.65)
Average monthly cost of living: $4,724
Livability index: 75
Oak Harbor, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $249.82
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($129.27)
Average monthly cost of living: $4,823
Livability index: 77
Mill Creek, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $250.57
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($128.51)
Average monthly cost of living: $8,324
Livability index: 81
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Mukilteo, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $250.57
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($128.51)
Average monthly cost of living: $8,016
Livability index: 76
Port Townsend, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $250.57
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($128.51)
Average monthly cost of living: $5,653
Livability index: 60
Gold Beach, Oregon
Average monthly cost of utilities: $252.47
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($126.61)
Average monthly cost of living: $4,559
Livability index: 70
Sequim, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $253.61
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($125.48)
Average monthly cost of living: $5,299
Livability index: 67
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East Wenatchee, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $254.74
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($124.34)
Average monthly cost of living: $4,656
Livability index: 84
Wenatchee, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $254.74
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($124.34)
Average monthly cost of living: $4,603
Livability index: 73
Longview, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $254.74
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($124.34)
Average monthly cost of living: $4,149
Livability index: 69
Kelso, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $254.74
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($124.34)
Average monthly cost of living: $4,101
Livability index: 63
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Brookings, Oregon
Average monthly cost of utilities: $256.64
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($122.44)
Average monthly cost of living: $4,724
Livability index: 60
Tacoma, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $257.02
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($122.06)
Average monthly cost of living: $4,907
Livability index: 78
Kingston, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $257.40
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($121.69)
Average monthly cost of living: $5,930
Livability index: 88
Mountlake Terrace, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $259.29
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($119.79)
Average monthly cost of living: $6,297
Livability index: 84
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Fox Island, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $259.29
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($119.79)
Average monthly cost of living: $8,415
Livability index: 65
Carthage, Tennessee
Average monthly cost of utilities: $259.67
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($119.41)
Average monthly cost of living: $3,644
Livability index: 70
Seattle
Average monthly cost of utilities: $260.81
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($118.27)
Average monthly cost of living: $7,903
Livability index: 75
University Place, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $261.19
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($117.89)
Average monthly cost of living: $5,969
Livability index: 86
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Everett, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $262.33
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($116.76)
Average monthly cost of living: $6,007
Livability index: 71
Shoreline, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $263.08
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($116.00)
Average monthly cost of living: $7,275
Livability index: 84
Stanwood, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $263.46
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($115.62)
Average monthly cost of living: $6,101
Livability index: 83
Cannon Beach, Oregon
Average monthly cost of utilities: $263.46
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($115.62)
Average monthly cost of living: $7,660
Livability index: 80
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Mount Vernon, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $263.46
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($115.62)
Average monthly cost of living: $5,255
Livability index: 78
Lakewood, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $263.46
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($115.62)
Average monthly cost of living: $5,026
Livability index: 73
Enumclaw, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $263.84
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($115.24)
Average monthly cost of living: $6,011
Livability index: 88
Edgewood, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $263.84
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($115.24)
Average monthly cost of living: $6,298
Livability index: 79
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Gig Harbor, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $263.84
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($115.24)
Average monthly cost of living: $6,742
Livability index: 74
Midland, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $263.84
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($115.24)
Average monthly cost of living: $4,782
Livability index: 71
Florence, Oregon
Average monthly cost of utilities: $263.84
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($115.24)
Average monthly cost of living: $4,383
Livability index: 69
Clover Creek, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $263.84
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($115.24)
Average monthly cost of living: $5,106
Livability index: 67
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Ferndale, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $264.22
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($114.86)
Average monthly cost of living: $5,471
Livability index: 80
Lincoln City, Oregon
Average monthly cost of utilities: $264.22
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($114.86)
Average monthly cost of living: $4,929
Livability index: 70
Bellingham, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $264.22
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($114.86)
Average monthly cost of living: $6,240
Livability index: 79
Kenmore, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $264.60
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($114.48)
Average monthly cost of living: $8,796
Livability index: 86
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Kirkland, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $264.60
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($114.48)
Average monthly cost of living: $10,604
Livability index: 83
Astoria, Oregon
Average monthly cost of utilities: $264.60
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($114.48)
Average monthly cost of living: $4,673
Livability index: 80
Medina, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $264.60
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($114.48)
Average monthly cost of living: $29,134
Livability index: 79
Frederickson, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $264.98
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($114.10)
Average monthly cost of living: $5,211
Livability index: 71
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Spanaway, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $264.98
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($114.10)
Average monthly cost of living: $5,002
Livability index: 71
Yelm, Washington
Average monthly cost of utilities: $264.98
Difference from the national average cost of utilities: ($114.10)
Average monthly cost of living: $4,754
Livability index: 70
Photo Disclaimer: Please note photos are for representational purposes only. As a result, some of the photos might not reflect the locations listed in this article.
Methodology: For this study, GOBanking Rates analyzed the cost of utilities across the United States to find the cities with the cheapest utilities. First, GOBankingRates found the lowest utility cost of living cities as sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces. For each city, a number of factors were found, including total population, total households, household median income as sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, the cost of living indexes as sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces, the average single family home value as sourced from Zillow Home Value Index, and the livability index as sourced from AreaVibes. Using the cost of living indexes and the average national expenditure costs, the average expenditure costs for each city can be calculated. Using the average home value, assuming a 10% down payment, and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, the average mortgage cost can be calculated. The average mortgage cost and average expenditure costs can be used to calculate the monthly total cost of living. The difference from the national average utility cost was calculated and included as supplemental information. The cities were sorted to show the cheapest to most expensive average monthly utility cost in order to show the cheapest utilities. All data was collected on and is up to date as of July 12, 2024.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 50 Cities With the Cheapest Utilities
